# 2868
Eight days ago Defra (Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs) announced that two Turkey farms located in Norfolk and Suffolk were suspected of harboring a low-pathogenic strain of bird flu. (see UK: Testing For Avian Flu On Two Poultry Farms)
Restrictions were put in place on the movement of birds while further testing was undertaken. No excess mortality was reported in the affected flocks.
Early on, the tests indicated the strain was the H6N1 variety, which has only been observed as a low pathogenic virus. Last night, test results confirmed this to be a low-path, H6N1 virus.
H6 is not viewed as a serious avian strain, and poses very low risk to human health. It is not a reportable avian disease (H5 & H7 are) to the OIE.
Today restrictions on both farms have been lifted.
This from the Eastern Daily Press.
Bird flu restrictions lifted at two Bernard Matthews farms
05 March 2009 16:12
Two Bernard Matthews turkey farms struck by bird flu have had restrictions put on them by Defra lifted.
Birds on small breeder farms at Yaxham near Dereham and Ubbestone near Halesworth in Suffolk had been found to have a strain of bird flu called H6N1 and movement restrictions had been placed on the sites.Yesterday, Defra officials completed tests on the flu and have lifted those restrictions after finding the strain was not of high risk.
A spokesman for Barnard Matthews said: “Testing has confirmed the type of Avian Influenza as H6N1 and that it is low pathogen, posing very low risk to both human and animal health.
“This is a virus type that has been isolated in both wild birds and commercial poultry flocks in Europe over the last few years.“Consequently, Defra have removed all movement restrictions from the two breeder farms and they continue to run as normal, in line with Bernard Matthews other operations.”
